ICPR Statement on US Supreme Court Ruling in the Montana case
Statement of ICPR Executive Director Brian Gladstein
on the US Supreme Court's summary reversal of the Montana Supreme Court in
American Tradition Partnership v Montana
June 25, 2012
The US Supreme Court today reaffirmed its 2010 ruling in Citizens United vs FEC by summarily overturning a ruling from the Montana Supreme Court. In 2010, the nation's high court found there was no factual basis to justify barring corporate spending in elections. That same five-member majority continues to assert that concerns about corruption are a legitimate basis for regulating campaign finance, but in this instance, they ignored the clear factual basis present in Montana and cited by that state's Supreme Court, which found that a long history of corruption following corporate contributions justified Montana's century-old, voter-enacted prohibition.
ICPR continues to believe that election laws should protect the integrity of government and elections in the face of donors with very deep pockets and very particular interests, and we pledge to work with state and local officials who remain committed to protecting Illinois from candidates and contributors who would seek to buy, sell, or trade public policy for private gain.
ICPR joined with reform organizations in several states to file an Amicus Curiae brief with the US Supreme Court in this case, urging consideration of Montana's history and precedent. A copy of that brief is available here.
